Additive manufacturing in dental technology | 3D printing at CADdent
Additive manufacturing is one of the most recent production methods in dental technology. In addition to additive manufacturing, which is also referred to as generative manufacturing in the specialist literature, there is the option for dental laboratories to produce their frameworks in a formative manufacturing process or by means of subtractive manufacturing.
Compared to the other manufacturing processes mentioned, additive manufacturing offers the great advantage that geometrically complex components can also be realized.
To put it simply or colloquially, additive manufacturing is 3D printing, in which a three-dimensional object is created by adding material in layers.
Strictly speaking, it's the other way around and 3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing. In contrast to the abstract term “additive manufacturing”, which requires explanation, everyone can imagine something under the pictorial term “3D printing”.
Additive manufacturing | metal 3D printing
LaserCUSING®, Laser Sintering, LaserMelting - in the dental industry there are many terms for 3D printing or additive manufacturing with metal. You can find out how these processes work in detail and which differences have to be taken into account in our wiki article LaserCUSING® | Laser sintering | LaserMelting – additive processes in dental technology.
Additive Manufacturing | Resin 3D printing
Resin 3D printing is the process that has manifested itself in people's minds. 3D printing is therefore primarily associated with resin 3D printing. As in additive manufacturing with metal, there are various processes that are used in the plastics sector.
At CADdent we work with the liquid resin process (DLP) and the resin melt process (FDM).
In a short and simplified way, with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) a filament is fed to the printer, which is led into the extruder head via the printer nozzle. This printer nozzle is brought up to temperature. As the filament is pushed through the nozzle, it melts. Melted material is applied to the build plate according to CAD data, where it cools and hardens. This is continued layer by layer until the object is fully built.
The DLP process (Digital Light Processing) is closely related to the first resin 3D printing process, stereolithography (SLA). With the help of a light projector, each built-up layer is exposed and thereby hardened. The process of applying material and exposing is repeated until the object is fully built.
By using various processes in the field of resin 3D printing, we can offer you a wide range of structures and materials.
Here you can find more information about CADdent 3D printing.
Additive Manufacturing | Ceramic 3D printing
The ceramic 3D printing process is a lithographic process and is therefore very similar to the manufacturing process that has already been roughly outlined above under the point of resin 3D printing.
So far, there have been no certified materials for the dental use of ceramic 3D printing that would allow them to be used in the mouths of patients. Nevertheless, we see potential in this type of production and are therefore involved with our internal research and development department in testing this process for use in the dental industry.
You can find out more about the state of research and how the additive manufacturing process works in our article “Innovation ceramic 3D printing at CADdent®”.
CONCLUSIONS
Due to the enormous scope for design that additive manufacturing offers, these processes are still in their infancy status. Research and development is a top priority at CADdent®. Thanks to the work of many innovative minds in our R&D department, you can find out about new products and innovations relating to additive manufacturing in dental technology and keep up to date with us.